Today the European Council will vote to set an emissions reduction target for cars and vans to be achieved by

Photo: Reuters/Yves Herman

Today the European Council will vote to set an emissions reduction target for cars and vans to be achieved by 2030.

On Wednesday, the European Parliament voted for a 40% target, while the European Commission opted for one of 30%. The final goal enacted into EU law will hinge on negotiations between the Commission, the Parliament and the Council.

The implementation of an emissions objective seeks to reduce 1990 CO2 emissions levels by 40% by 2030. However, the EU environment committee has expressed that the targets set will not be sufficient to meet the obligations of the Paris Agreement.

This position is pitted against the impact that a more radical target will have on auto industries, particularly Germany’s, which is the largest in Europe. European lawmakers have already proposed the establishment of a fund for professional development to facilitate career transition. However, this will likely be insufficient to appease Berlin and the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, which has warned of the “disruptive socio-economic impacts” of more ambitious targets. Expect today’s vote and the final outcome to set a target which balances these conflicting interests and for neither auto manufacturers nor environmental lobbyists to achieve their aims.

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